Theatre installation



Dec. 7, 1965 R. DOBLHOFF 3, 5 THEATRE INSTALLATION Filed July 24, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 W IINIHHHH INVENTOR. 44m: awaw Dec. 7, 1965 R. DOBLHOFF 3,221,450

THEATRE INSTALLATION Filed July 24, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 5 39 33 29 4| 3| 40 28 3 INVENTOR.

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Dec. 7, 1965 R. DOBLHOFF 3,

THEATRE INSTALLATION Filed July 24, 1959 S Sheets-Sheet v5 IN V ENTOR.

United States Patent (3 3,221,450 THEATRE HNSTALLATION Raimund Doblhofi, 16a Siebentischstrasse, Augsburg, Germany Filed .luly 24, 1959, Ser. No. 829,448 Claims priority, application Germany, July 2 6, 1958, D 28,622 4 Claims. (Cl. 52-10) In existing theatres, and also in the modern theatres at present being built, the auditorium is completely separated from the stage. Considering the height and size of both auditorium and stage, there is only a comparatively small space available for the stage, or only a comparatively small stage section is available. Considering also the many different kinds of successive scenes and representations, rapid scene changing is necessary, requiring expensive sliding stages, trap doors, revolving stages, stage lofts, shifting stages and the like.

To remedy this drawback, it has been proposed to provide a theatre installation having a revolving auditorium surrounded by the stage, the revolving auditorium being arranged eceentrically with respect to the stage. It is true that this results in some saving of machinery for rapid scene changing, but the old principle of complete separation of auditorium and stage is little altered, since the auditorium consisting of a kind of roundabout with cylindrical dome also has only a comparatively narrow segment through which the particular stage is visible. This theatre installation, provided with revolving roundabout and, as before, a separate auditorium, has not been successful.

In contrast to these known theatre installations, the invention adopts an entirely new construction. The theatre installation according to the invention consists substantially of a continuous stage occupying the greater part of the floor space of the theatre building, in which stage one or more auditorium structures are mounted to be rotatably and longitudinally and/ or transversely moveable. A separate auditorium is therefore no longer present. Compared with known installations, this theatre installation provides a much better utilisation of the stage, or extensive possibilities of utilisation. The machinery for rapid scene shifting, necessary in the usual theatre installations, is largely eliminated. The new theatre installation is provided with a roof or ceiling construction having travelling working stages, means for fixing light girders for curtains and the like, connections for lights and projectors, as well as lifting tackle for pieces of scenery, lights and the like. The possibility is thus provided of being able to mount at any height and above any point of the entire stage, that is to say also above the spectator, decors, ceiling curtains and the like. The theatre according to the invention represents substantially a large, undivided, spacious hall, which is as simple in its construction as any normal commercial hall. In the latter, all kinds of theatre scenes can be built up adjacent each other in the traditional manner. Since the rate of scene changing cannot be dictated, difiicult decors can also be erected, as is usual for example in the film industry. The top machinery can he fixed to the load-carrying hall roof where required. Between the hall trusses of the roof run small travelling cranes with working stages or platforms, making it possible to reach any point of the hall roof and also to fix at any point of the hall roof pieces of scenery, to hang curtains or all-round pieces and to mount lighting bridges as required.

Of the bottom machinery, only a few small trap doors are left, in order at times to be able to show appearances from the depths, as is to be found in old pieces. The new audience floor or stand is adapted to travel and revolve. On it the spectators are moved to the particular scene.

3,221,450 Patented Dec. 7, 1965 The costs for this moving floor are small compared with that of the machines, large trap doors and the like which are rendered unnecessary. The actual auditorium is eliminated altogether and with it the heavy cost of its usually artistic settings. Instead, the visitor has the sensation of being at the centre of the actual technical stage activities and of enjoying the entirely novel three-dimensional eifects with all their stage management possibilities and transformations. The floor space of this new theatre is substantially as large as the floor space of existing houses. Due to the elimination of all passages to the boxes, proscenia, the inclusion of the back stages or wings and dead angle in the one large stage, the considerable building costs of all these separations are saved. The hall construction can be erected economically, instead of incurring heavy expense through diflicult special subdivision. Constructionally, due to the absence of trap doors and the consequently necessary deep cellars, considerable savings are likewise possible.

In the electrical equipment also, a considerable simplification of the installation is possible, since interchangeable lighting bridges can be mounted in the period when no performance is taking place where the particular performance requires it, and the rigid lighting bridges, usually present in large numbers, are no longer required. In view of the many scenes which are contiguously ready for performance, a large number of projectors will have to be provided.

The building costs of such a theatre will therefore be much less than for a town theatre of the usual kind. The size of the undivided stage available makes it possible to mount very spacious scenes, as well as the installation of very small rooms and very intimate chamber theatre effects. The absence of the proscenium permits the scene section to range from a narrow, high scene to completely free all-round view, so that in addition to all the usual effects, the most surprising three-dimensional impressions are possible.

The foyers and vestibules may be very restricted, since the room for movement of the audience floor is available for promenading in the intervals, and by a changing decoration or lighting can be fashioned in the style of the piece.

The new theatre can be used for everything, since the large space permits its use for other arrangements.

In view of the lesser requirement for decorations, additional auditorium structures permit the number of visitors to be considerably increased. Sporting events, from tennis to boxing, can be held, as well as exhibitions, lectures, concerts, political meetings, festivals, carnival balls and wide screen cinematograph performances. Thanks to the technical equipment, films and television performances can be produced as in the best studio. The profitable nature of such an installation of wide applications would thus be ensured in any large town. Apart from the economic advantages, the artistic possibilities will be of primary importance for the new theatre. The perfectly free possibility of production, adapted to follow every idea, will combine the new theatre style of the musical and open-air theatre with the high-speed possibilities of films, and scene-changing without interval with the traditional theatre.

The details of the new theatre installation, its advantages and the many possibilities in its use will be explained more fully in the following with reference to the drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 shows a theatre installation in plan;

FIGURE 2 a vertical cross-section through this installation on the line IIII in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 a longitudinal section through this theatre installation on the line III-III in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 a portion of the ceiling construction of the theatre installation on a larger scale corresponding to the boundary line IV in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 another portion of the ceiling construction on a larger scale corresponding to the boundary line V in FIGURE 3; and

FIGURE 6 a vertical cross-section through the moving audience floor on a larger scale.

In the constructional example shown in the drawings, the new theatre consists substantially of a rectangular large or capacious hall I. This hall forms the stage floor 2, occupying the greater part of the floor between the walls of the theatre building. in this continuous stage is mounted an auditorium structure 3, which is both rotatable and longitudinally movable in the direction of the arrow C and if desired also transversely movable in the direction of the arrow D. Instead of only one auditorium structure 3, several auditorium structures 3a, 3b may be provided, adapted to be arranged as desired in the stage 2. The inner walls of the stage 2 are made smooth and flat, so that they can be used as projection screens.

The plan of the theatre installation in FIGURE 1 shows that a large number of scenes a-d can be set up in the stage room without the need for changing scenes. The auditorium structure 3 due to its rotatable and universal mobility, can always be moved into the correct and best position relative to the individual scenes.

As follows further from FIGURE 1 plays can also be performed with traditional means in the theatre installation according to the invention. For this purpose, for instance, revolving stages 4 and curtains 5 to 7 separating the spectator from the individual scenes are provided. In the advantageous constructional example shown, the stage room situated in front of the auditorium structure 3 in the normal position of the latter (FIGURE 1) has a greater height than the rest of the stage room, as will be seen from FIGURE 3. The flat, cantilever roof construction has a plurality of longitudinal trusses S and 9, which in the middle part of the stage room are connected below and above respectively to a high transverse truss 10 forming a boundary wall of the high stage room. In this way it is possible to bridge in a statically satisfactory manner a comparatively wide stage room with a cantilever roof construction.

As will be seen from the drawing, adjoining the stage room 2 are subsidiary rooms 11, which may serve as vestibule, store, workshop, wardrobe or the like.

FIGURES 4 and 5, drawn to a larger scale, show more particularly that overhead travelling cranes 12, with suitable working platforms or gangways 13, are arranged between the longitudinal girders 8 and 9. Advantageously, secured to the roof construction are rails 14, on which the track wheels of the overhead travelling cranes 12 are guided. These cranes 12 are driven in known manner, not shown more particularly. These overhead cranes can be used for bringing scenery, lighting elements, projectors, etc., to the required position and at the required height in the stage floor 2. FIGURE 4 shows how a curtain, suspended from a light girder 16, is transported by means of a travelling crane 12. Mounted on the travelling crane I2 is a winch 18, on the lateral drums 19 of which are Wound carrying cables. The light girder 16 is suspended from the travelling crane 12 by means of a cable Ztl, having two loops 20a and 20b, and can now be transported. Hooks 22 are fixed to rails 21 mounted laterally on the longitudinal girders ti and 9. For attaching the light girder to the roof construction, a loop 20a is placed in a hook 22, and the other loop 20b is released from the cable of the winch 19, so that the curtain 17 remains at the desired place. Connections 23 for electric current are provided on the longitudinal girders 8 and 9, being distributed over the entire stage room. In this way, lighting elements 24, loudspeakers 25, projectors 26, microphones and the like 4 (FIGURE 5) can be supplied with current at any desired point in the stage room 2.

This construction of the ceiling with travelling cranes and working platforms arranged between longitudinal girders makes it possible to transport rapidly and simply the scenery and all the other equipment necessary for the operation of the theatre. The wings and other pieces of scenery can be lifted without trouble from the floor and lowered again at some other point. All the scenes of a piece can thus be built up in a short time at points distributed over the entire stage floor 2.

The auditorium structure 3 mounted in the stage floor 2 is, as already mentioned, universally moveable. As follows from the perpendicular cross-section shown on a larger scale in FIGURE 6, the auditorium structure is mounted on rails 27 arranged in the longitudinal direction in the floor 28 of the stage room 2. For the purpose of movement in all directions, three superimposed carriages are provided. In the advantageous constructional example shown, the lowest carriage 29 is carried by its rollers 3t on the track rails 27. It carries the bearing 31 for a pivot 32, about which a middle earriage 33 is adapted to revolve on rollers 34. Mounted on the middle carriage is an upper carriage 36, which is provided with rollers 35 and which is adapted to be moved at right angles to the longitudinal rails 27, for which purpose a lateral extension, not shown, is provided on carriage 33 or on carriage 36 of auditorium structure 3. The carriages 29 and 36 are driven by the motors 37 and 38, while the middle carriage 33 is rotated by means of a motor 39, a pinion 40 and a rim gear 41. Motor 37 drives through its shaft 52 and a transmission 53 a chain wheel 54 connected by a chain 56 to a chain wheel 55 on the shaft of a wheel 30. Motor 38 has a pinion on its shaft which meshes with a rock bar 51 secured to carriage 36. The auditorium comprising seats for the audience provided on the sloping upper surface of auditorium structure 3 is denoted by 42. By means of the auditorium structure 3, the audience can be moved to any desired point in the stage room 2. In combination with the additional auditorium structures 3a and 3b, which like the auditorium structure 3, are moveable in all directions and rotatable, or which may be constructed as auxiliary galleries to be carried into the stage room 2, it is possible to produce a gallery arrangement similar to that in an ancient theatre. By placing the auditorium structures 3, 3a and 3b adjacent each other, a wide gallery for very many spectators is produced. The auditorium structure 3a may also be removed from the stage room 2 and used as an open-air theatre either directly adjacent the theatre building 1 or at a greater distance therefrom.

The theatre installation according to the invention has the particular advantage that by the use of the universally movable and rotatable auditorium structure 3, it is possible to build up in any hall a theatre adapted to function in the most modern manner, since the scenery can remain stationary, that is to say the usual theatre apparatus becomes unnecessary and the audience can be moved from scene to scene.

The novel ceiling construction and top machinery permit novel, peculiar theatre operation also in the case of stationary seating.

What I claim is:

1. A building comprising, in combination, a hall having walls, and a floor surrounded by said walls; a first carriage mounted on said floor for movement along the same; a second carriage mounted on said first carriage for turning movement about a vertical axis, and for movement with said first carriage; a third carriage mounted on said second carriage for rectilinear movement in horizontal direction; means for moving said third carriage; an auditorium comprising a plurality of rows of seats, having a front and being mounted on said third carriage for movement with the same in the direction of said rows of seats and turnable with said third and second carriages, said first, second and third carriages forming an auditorium structure having a length and a width substantially smaller than the length and width of said floor between said walls; means on said first carriage for moving the same with said second carriage, said third carriage, and said auditorium so that floor areas of different depth in one direction are defined between said auditorium and said walls when said auditorium is in different positions displaced with said front facing in said one direction; and means for turning said second carriage with said third carriage and said auditorium about said vertical axis so that other floor areas of difierent depth constituting stage areas adapted to be viewed from said auditorium are defined between said front of said auditorium and said walls in turned positions of said auditorium.

2. A building comprising, in combination, a hall having walls, a roof, and a floor surrounded by said walls; rail means on said floor extending in one direction; a first carriage mounted on said rail means for movement along the same; a second carriage mounted on said first carriage for turning movement about a vertical aXis, and for movement with said first carriage in said one direction; a third carriage mounted on said second carriage for rectilinear movement in horizontal direction; means for moving said third carriage; an auditorium comprising a plurality of rows of seats having a front and being mounted on said third carriage for movement with the same so as to be movable transverse to said rails when said front faces in said one direction, said auditorium being turnable with said third and second carriages; said first, second and third carriages and said auditorium forming an auditorium structure having a length and a width substantially smaller than the length and width of said floor between said walls; means on said first carriage for moving the same with said second carriage, said third carriage and said auditorium along said rails so that floor areas of difierent depth in said one direction are defined between said auditorium and said walls when said auditorium is in difierent positions displaced along said rails with said front facing in said one direction; and means for turning said second carriage with said third carriage and said auditorium about said vertical axis so that other floor areas of dififerent depth constituting stage areas adapted to be viewed from said auditorium are defined between said front of said auditorium and said Walls in turned positions of said auditorium.

3. A building comprising, in combination, a hall having walls including longitudinal walls and traverse walls, a roof including longitudinal and traverse beams, said longitudinal beams including higher horizontal beams projecting from said transverse walls, and lower horizontal beam, and said traverse beams including a girder connecting the ends of said higher and lower horizontal beams, and a floor surrounded by said walls; rail means on said floor extending in longitudinal direction; a first carriage mounted on said rail means for movement along the same; a second carriage mounted on said first carriage for turning movement about a vertical axis, and for movement with said first carriage in said longitudinal direction; a third carriage mounted on said second carriage for rectilinear movement in horizontal direction; means for moving said third carriage; an auditorium comprising a plurality of rows of seats having a front and being mounted on said third carriage for movement with the same so as to be movable transverse to said rails when said front faces in said one direction, said auditorium being turnable with said third and second carriages; said first, second and third carriages and said auditorium forming an auditorium structure having a length and a width substantially smaller than the length and width of said floor between said walls; means on said first carriage for moving the same with said second carriage, said third carriage and said auditorium along said rails so that floor areas of diiferent depth in said longitudinal direction are defined between said auditorium and said transverse walls when said auditorium is in different positions displaced along said rails with said front facing in said one direction; means for turning said second carriage with said third carriage and said auditorium about said vertical axis so that other floor areas of different depth constituting stage areas adapted to be viewed from said auditorium are defined between said front of said auditorium and said walls in turned positions of said auditorium; and crane means mounted on said longitudinal beams for movement in said longitudinal direction and adapted to support stage equipment such as curtains, scenery, lights and broadcasting equipment whereby stage equipment can be transported to selected stage areas.

4. An auditorium arrangement for use in a building having a floor, said auditorium arrangement comprising, in combination, a first carriage adapted to move along a floor; a second carriage; a third carriage; first mounting means movably mounting said second carriage on said first carriage and second mounting means movably mounting said third carriage on said second carriage, one of said mounting means supporting the mounted carriage for turning movement about a vertical axis relative to the carriage on which this mounted carriage is mounted and the other of said mounting means supporting the carriage mounted thereby for movement in a horizontal plane relative to the carriage on which this latter mounted carriage is mounted; and an auditorium including a plurality of seats mounted on said third carriage movable together with the same.

Safway Spectator Seating, (advertising circular) page 11 only, January 1959.

FRANK L. ABBOTT, Primary Examiner.

WILLIAM I. MUSHAKE, JACOB L. NACKENOFF, Examiners. 

4. AN AUDITORIUM ARRANGEMENT FOR USE IN A BUILDING HAVING A FLOOR, SAID AUDITORIUM ARRANGEMENT COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, A FIRST CARRIAGE ADAPTED TO MOVE ALONG A FLOOR; A SECOND CARRIAGE; A THIRD CARRIAGE; FIRST MOUNTING MEANS MOVABLY MOUNTING SAID SECOND CARRIAGE ON SAID FIRST CARRIAGE AND SECOND MOUNTING MEANS MOVABLY MOUNTING SAID THIRD CARRIAGE ON SAID SECOND CARRIAGE, ONE OF SAID MOUNTING MEANS SUPPORTING THE MOUNTED CARRIAGE FOR TURNING MOVEMENT ABOUT A VERTICAL AXIS RELATIVE TO THE CARRIAGE ON WHICH THIS MOUNTED CARRIAGE IS MOUNTED AND THE OTHER OF SAID MOUNTING MEANS SUPPORTING THE CARRIARE MOUNTED THEREBY FOR MOVEMENT IN A HORIZONTAL PLANE RELATIVE TO THE CARRIAGE ON WHICH THIS LATTER MOUNTED CARRIAGE IS MOUNTED; AND AN AUDITORIUM INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF SEATS MOUNTED ON SAID THIRD CARRIAGE MOVABLE TOGETHER WITH THE SAME. 